Estonian Air
Encyclopedia
AS Estonian Air is Estonia's national carrier, owned by the Estonian state. The airline is based in Tallinn
, Estonia
. It is a regional airline feeding into the Scandinavian Airlines System
(SAS) network via Stockholm
, Oslo
and Copenhagen
from Estonia.
AS Estonian Air has two subsidiaries and two joint ventures: Estonian Air Jet Leasing Ltd which owns airline's aircrafts and in co-operation with the parent company AS Estonian Air Regional operates Saab 340 aircraft and provides commercial air services to the neighboring region; Estonian Aviation Fuelling Services AS provides aircraft fueling services at Tallinn Airport and AS Amadeus Eesti provides distribution system and support to local travel agents.
Estonian Air is owned by the Estonian government (90%) and SAS Group
(10%). It has 351 employees (May 2009, including AS Estonian Air Regional). Unlike its affiliated carrier, Scandinavian Airlines, Estonian Air is not a member of the Star Alliance but it is a part of the SAS loyalty programme, EuroBonus
.
Division Estonian Air started operation on 1 December 1991 with service to Frankfurt
.
In 1992 the airline became a member of IATA and the first Boeing 737-500
was delivered in 1995. The company was partially privatised in 1996 with 66% of shares to Maersk Air (49%) and Cresco investment bank (17%). The company leased two Boeing 737-500s
to replace its old Soviet planes, and in 1996, after obtaining two more Fokker 50s, it was able to retire the Soviet fleet entirely.
In 2003 Maersk Air sold its shares to SAS and the Fokker 50s were retired. By 2004 the airline had carried its 500,000th passenger.
In March 2007 Estonian Air announced that they will lease another Boeing 737-500 and serve a new destination, Vienna
. Estonian Air has leased two Saab 340
s and in June 2008 Estonian Air established a new company Estonian Air Regional. Under that name it added new destinations from Tallinn
to Kuressaare
, Stockholm
, Helsinki
and Vilnius
. Later on to Saint Petersburg
and to Minsk
.
In 2008 three new destinations (Minsk, Munich and Rome) were served and the company announced that it was ordering 3 Bombardier CRJ900 NG and further 3 options. On 27 November 2008, Estonian Prime Minister Andrus Ansip
announced that SAS had approached the Estonian government, urgently requesting a cash injection to save the airline and offering to buy out the government's stake in the airline. The Estonian government is reportedly in negotiations with ferry company Tallink
to come up with a counter-proposal.
In 2009 Estonian Air gave up its Vienna, Frankfurt and Simferopol routes. The company closed its ground handling division. New destinations from Tallinn were Amsterdam, Berlin and St Peterburg, new route was Tartu–Stockholm.
In 2010 Estonian Air started cooperation with KLM, announcing new route Tallinn–Vilnius–Amsterdam (starting from 12 February 2010).
As of 10 May 2010, the government of Estonia and SAS Scandinavian Airlines have agreed to a transaction where the Estonian government has provided additional 21 million EUR in capital to Estonian Air resulting in the stake of SAS in the carrier to decrease from 49% to 10%. At the same time, the two parties have agreed that the Estonian government gets an option to buy the remaining 10% stake from SAS at a later time between now and 2014. Estonian Air and SAS Scandinavian Airlines will continue to cooperate in the same fashion for the time being. The short-term aim of the government is to become a leading shareholder and to invest in the company to ensure it's future as Estonian Air is strategically important to the state. In September 2010, Estonian Air announced that they have finally signed an agreement with Bombardier, in which two CRJ-900 NextGen aircraft are going to be delivered in the beginning of 2011 (both planes were delivered in January 2011) and a third one in 2012. The agreement with SAS Scandinavian Airlines was signed on 10 September 2010 and it took effect on 27 October 2010 when Estonian Parliament
ratified 2010 state budget modifications, allocating needed funds for investment.
On all Boeing and Bombardier-operated flights there are two service classes onboard
Estonian Air has strong links with Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS). It operates frequent flights to SAS hubs in Copenhagen, Oslo and Stockholm. The airline boasts "Well connected with SAS" status and the airline's frequent flyer programme is SAS' EuroBonus scheme. Other products and services shared with SAS include co-ordinated timetabling and shared airport lounges. Estonian Air codeshares with SAS on the Tallinn–Stockholm, –Copenhagen, –Oslo and Stockholm–Kuressaare, -Vilnius routes.
See also SAS Group destinations
Tallinn
Tallinn is the capital and largest city of Estonia. It occupies an area of with a population of 414,940. It is situated on the northern coast of the country, on the banks of the Gulf of Finland, south of Helsinki, east of Stockholm and west of Saint Petersburg. Tallinn's Old Town is in the list...
, Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
. It is a regional airline feeding into the Scandinavian Airlines System
Scandinavian Airlines System
Scandinavian Airlines or SAS, previously Scandinavian Airlines System, is the flag carrier of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, and the largest airline in Scandinavia....
(SAS) network via Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
, Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
and Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
from Estonia.
AS Estonian Air has two subsidiaries and two joint ventures: Estonian Air Jet Leasing Ltd which owns airline's aircrafts and in co-operation with the parent company AS Estonian Air Regional operates Saab 340 aircraft and provides commercial air services to the neighboring region; Estonian Aviation Fuelling Services AS provides aircraft fueling services at Tallinn Airport and AS Amadeus Eesti provides distribution system and support to local travel agents.
Estonian Air is owned by the Estonian government (90%) and SAS Group
SAS Group
Scandinavian Airlines System Aktiebolag , trading as SAS Group and SAS AB, is a holding company based in Solna, Sweden. It is the parent company of the airlines Scandinavian Airlines, Blue1 and Widerøe, and the aviation services companies SAS Business Opportunities, SAS Cargo Group, SAS Ground...
(10%). It has 351 employees (May 2009, including AS Estonian Air Regional). Unlike its affiliated carrier, Scandinavian Airlines, Estonian Air is not a member of the Star Alliance but it is a part of the SAS loyalty programme, EuroBonus
EuroBonus
EuroBonus is the frequent flyer program of four European airlines of SAS Group. It was launched by Scandinavian Airlines System in 1992.-SAS Group - EuroBonus:* Blue1 * Scandinavian Airlines System * Widerøe...
.
History
The airline was established by the Estonian government with aircraft acquired from the defunct local AeroflotAeroflot
OJSC AeroflotRussian Airlines , commonly known as Aeroflot , is the flag carrier and largest airline of the Russian Federation, based on passengers carried per year...
Division Estonian Air started operation on 1 December 1991 with service to Frankfurt
Frankfurt
Frankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010...
.
In 1992 the airline became a member of IATA and the first Boeing 737-500
Boeing 737
The Boeing 737 is a short- to medium-range, twin-engine narrow-body jet airliner. Originally developed as a shorter, lower-cost twin-engine airliner derived from Boeing's 707 and 727, the 737 has developed into a family of nine passenger models with a capacity of 85 to 215 passengers...
was delivered in 1995. The company was partially privatised in 1996 with 66% of shares to Maersk Air (49%) and Cresco investment bank (17%). The company leased two Boeing 737-500s
Boeing 737
The Boeing 737 is a short- to medium-range, twin-engine narrow-body jet airliner. Originally developed as a shorter, lower-cost twin-engine airliner derived from Boeing's 707 and 727, the 737 has developed into a family of nine passenger models with a capacity of 85 to 215 passengers...
to replace its old Soviet planes, and in 1996, after obtaining two more Fokker 50s, it was able to retire the Soviet fleet entirely.
In 2003 Maersk Air sold its shares to SAS and the Fokker 50s were retired. By 2004 the airline had carried its 500,000th passenger.
In March 2007 Estonian Air announced that they will lease another Boeing 737-500 and serve a new destination, Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
. Estonian Air has leased two Saab 340
Saab 340
The Saab 340 is a discontinued Swedish two-engine turboprop aircraft designed and initially produced by a partnership between Saab and Fairchild Aircraft in a 65:35 ratio...
s and in June 2008 Estonian Air established a new company Estonian Air Regional. Under that name it added new destinations from Tallinn
Tallinn
Tallinn is the capital and largest city of Estonia. It occupies an area of with a population of 414,940. It is situated on the northern coast of the country, on the banks of the Gulf of Finland, south of Helsinki, east of Stockholm and west of Saint Petersburg. Tallinn's Old Town is in the list...
to Kuressaare
Kuressaare
Kuressaare is a town and a municipality on Saaremaa island in Estonia. It is the capital of Saare County. The current population is about 14,706 Kuressaare is a town and a municipality on Saaremaa island in Estonia. It is the capital of Saare County. The current population is about 14,706...
, Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
, Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
and Vilnius
Vilnius
Vilnius is the capital of Lithuania, and its largest city, with a population of 560,190 as of 2010. It is the seat of the Vilnius city municipality and of the Vilnius district municipality. It is also the capital of Vilnius County...
. Later on to Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
and to Minsk
Minsk
- Ecological situation :The ecological situation is monitored by Republican Center of Radioactive and Environmental Control .During 2003–2008 the overall weight of contaminants increased from 186,000 to 247,400 tons. The change of gas as industrial fuel to mazut for financial reasons has worsened...
.
In 2008 three new destinations (Minsk, Munich and Rome) were served and the company announced that it was ordering 3 Bombardier CRJ900 NG and further 3 options. On 27 November 2008, Estonian Prime Minister Andrus Ansip
Andrus Ansip
Andrus Ansip is the current Prime Minister of Estonia, and chairman of the market liberal Estonian Reform Party .-Early life and career:...
announced that SAS had approached the Estonian government, urgently requesting a cash injection to save the airline and offering to buy out the government's stake in the airline. The Estonian government is reportedly in negotiations with ferry company Tallink
Tallink
Tallink is an Estonian shipping company currently operating Baltic Sea cruiseferries and ropax ships from Estonia to Finland, Estonia to Sweden, Latvia to Sweden and Finland to Germany. They also own Silja Line and a part of SeaRail...
to come up with a counter-proposal.
In 2009 Estonian Air gave up its Vienna, Frankfurt and Simferopol routes. The company closed its ground handling division. New destinations from Tallinn were Amsterdam, Berlin and St Peterburg, new route was Tartu–Stockholm.
In 2010 Estonian Air started cooperation with KLM, announcing new route Tallinn–Vilnius–Amsterdam (starting from 12 February 2010).
Riigikogu
The Riigikogu is the unicameral parliament of Estonia. All important state-related questions pass through the Riigikogu...
ratified 2010 state budget modifications, allocating needed funds for investment.
On-board service
Premium Class
Premium Class cabin is for passengers holding Business or Flexible Economy fare tickets. All passengers are served free breakfast, lunch or dinner and beverages depending on the time of departure. Free alcoholic drinks are served as well (wine, sparkling wine, gin, rum, brandy etc).Travel class
Travel Class is for passengers with Economy fare tickets. Free complimentary refreshments are offered: snacks, coffee, tea, water and juice on longer flights, and coffee, tea and water on flights which are shorter than one hour.Destinations
Estonian Air offers direct flights from the Estonian capital, Tallinn to throughout Europe: Amsterdam, Barcelona (summer only), Brussels, Copenhagen, Hannover (from 02.04.12), Helsinki (from 24.03.12), Jyväskylä (from 25.04.12), Kiev, Kuressaare, London, Milan (summer only), Minsk, Moscow, Nice (summer only), Oslo, Paris, Riga (from 24.03.12), St Petersburg, Stockholm, Trondheim, Vilnius, Vienna (from 25.03.12) and Tartu.Estonian Air has strong links with Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS). It operates frequent flights to SAS hubs in Copenhagen, Oslo and Stockholm. The airline boasts "Well connected with SAS" status and the airline's frequent flyer programme is SAS' EuroBonus scheme. Other products and services shared with SAS include co-ordinated timetabling and shared airport lounges. Estonian Air codeshares with SAS on the Tallinn–Stockholm, –Copenhagen, –Oslo and Stockholm–Kuressaare, -Vilnius routes.
See also SAS Group destinations
SAS Group destinations
SAS Group destinations This is a complete list of the SAS Group airlines destinations. Including Air Greenland, Blue1, Estonian Air, Scandinavian Airlines, Spanair, Widerøe...
Fleet
The Estonian Air fleet includes the following aircraft as of 27 November 2011:Retired Fleet
- Tupolev Tu-134ATupolev Tu-134The Tupolev Tu-134 is a twin-engined airliner, similar to the American Douglas DC-9 and the French Sud Aviation Caravelle, and built in the Soviet Union from 1966–1984. The original version featured a glazed-nose design and, like certain other Russian airliners , it can operate from unpaved...
: 11 (1990–1996) - Yakovlev Yak-40Yakovlev Yak-40The Yakovlev Yak-40 is a small, three-engined airliner that is often called the first regional jet transport aircraft...
: 4 (1990–1996) - Boeing 737-500Boeing 737The Boeing 737 is a short- to medium-range, twin-engine narrow-body jet airliner. Originally developed as a shorter, lower-cost twin-engine airliner derived from Boeing's 707 and 727, the 737 has developed into a family of nine passenger models with a capacity of 85 to 215 passengers...
: 7 (1995–2010) - Fokker 50: 5 (1996–2003)
Codeshare agreements
Estonian Air has codeshare agreements with the following airlines:
|
SkyTeam SkyTeam, branded as SKYTEAM, is an airline alliance with its centralised management team, SkyTeam Central, based at the World Trade Center Schiphol Airport on the grounds of Amsterdam Airport Schiphol in Haarlemmermeer, Netherlands... ) Rossiya (airline) Rossiya Airlines OJSC , operating as Rossiya — Russian Airlines is a secondary national airline with its head office in Saint Petersburg, Russia, resulting from the 2006 merger of the Moscow-based company of the same name and Saint Petersburg-based Pulkovo Aviation Enterprise... Star Alliance Star Alliance is the world's first and largest airline alliance, headquartered in Frankfurt am Main, Germany . The alliance was founded in 1997 by five of the world's leading airlines: Air Canada, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines, Thai Airways International and United Airlines... ) Spanair Spanair is a Spanish airline, with its head office in the Spanair Building in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, near Barcelona. It was, until 2009, a subsidiary of Scandinavian Airlines, which now holds slightly under 20% of the company. Spanair provides a scheduled passenger network within Spain and... (Star Alliance Star Alliance Star Alliance is the world's first and largest airline alliance, headquartered in Frankfurt am Main, Germany . The alliance was founded in 1997 by five of the world's leading airlines: Air Canada, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines, Thai Airways International and United Airlines... )> |